Pages

Thursday, 27 September 2012

I'm just back from a wonderful two weeks in the USA, part of it spent at my family's
cabin on Yellow Lake. As some readers will know, the last time I was there was in the July of 2011, when the area was hit with 100 mph winds. This storm's effects were devastating to the region and to my own family: our beloved cabin was damaged and all the trees which surrounded it were downed.

I'm happy to report that there's a "new normal" at the lake, thanks to the hard work of my sister, brother-in-law and many other family members and friends. Trees have been planted and there is green grass growing once again. It may not look the same, but the things that really mattered are still there. The cabin looks as sturdy and as lovely as ever. The woods to the north of the cabin are full of saplings which will eventually grow to be mighty oaks and tall pines. Eagles still swoop through the skies, squirrels still chatter, foxes still leave paw prints on the beach...

The essence of this special place couldn't be changed, even if the landscape was altered

And the lake? Well, part of the "new normal" is the panoramic view!

I'm not sure if there are any wider lessons or morals to be learned from my experience.

In hindsight, the storm, which seemed so catastrophic while it was happening, was a minor event. No one died. Nothing was destroyed that could not be replaced, repaired or replanted. My family was not ruined financially or made homeless.

But my experience of returning to the lake has told me that hard work, intense love and a bit of time can turn a bad experience into something that is not only positive, but worth celebrating.

And seeing how quickly and how deeply the "new normal" has taken root makes me understand something even more important: it's better to wait and see before giving up on anyone or anything, whether it's a career, a book, a child, a relationship...